Camp X-Ray: UK Detainees

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 9 May (WA 189), what is the position as regards the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (as distinct from the Geneva Convention).

Baroness Amos: The applicability of a particular provision of either the ICCPR, or alternatively of international humanitarian law, will depend on the status of the individual concerned and the circumstances of his detention.
	The Government have raised the conditions of the British detainees at Guantanamo Bay on a number of occasions and officials have visited them twice. We are satisfied that conditions at the camp are satisfactory. We continue to monitor the welfare of the British detainees closely and are in regular contact with the US authorities about them.

Poor Countries: Debt Relief

Baroness Williams of Crosby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of the recently announced increase in United Kingdom foreign aid is accounted for by debt relief to poor countries (a) in money terms and (b) as a percentage of the total.

Lord Grocott: In 2001 bilateral debt relief accounted for 0.024 of the UK oda:GNI ratio of 0.32; forecasts suggest that in the years 2002–06 the equivalent figure will rise to an average of 0.036 due mainly to the increased impact of HIPC.
	DfID also helps finance multilateral debt relief through contributions to trust funds administered by the World Bank; provisional figures show that this cost £23 million in 2001–02. This is less than 1 per cent of our spending in 2001–02. Also in 2001–02 we offered relief to Pakistan on £20 million of debt originally owed to the CDC but subsequently transferred to DfID; this will show up as a provision in our 2001–02 accounts, though the relief is conditional on performance over the next two years.

Immigration Removal Centres Insurance

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes in cover have been sought by insurers at each of the privately operated detention centres including Oakington, following the fire at Yarl's Wood.

Lord Rooker: With effect from 1 April, the insurance cover for the Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre includes property damage and business interruption.
	The terms of the insurance for the other removal centres, including Oakington, will be the subject of negotiations as and when they are up for renewal.

Northern Ireland: Illegal Importation of Fuel

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many convictions for the illegal importation of fuel there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The numbers of successful prosecutions in Northern Ireland for the illegal importation of fuels are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number 
			  
			 1995–96 1 
			 1996–97 Nil 
			 1997–98 1 
			 1998–99 3 
			 1999–2000 3 
			 2000–01 1 
		
	
	Customs has no record of prosecutions for fuel smuggling prior to the financial year 1995–96.

Northern Ireland: Illegal Distilling of Liquor

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many convictions for the illegal distilling of liquor there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Customs investigations have led to three people being convicted over the past 10 years of operating an illicit still in Northern Ireland. The convictions were in 1993 (one), 1994 (one) and 1996 (one).

Sex Discrimination Act 1975

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 30 April (WA 91), whether they consider that as a matter of principle it would be desirable for legislation to provide for the same burden of proof in employment and non-employment cases of alleged unlawful discrimination whether on grounds of sex or otherwise; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In our recent consultation document Towards Equality and Diversity, we made specific proposals as regards the burden of proof in discrimination cases under legislation implementing the Race and Employment Directives (2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC). These proposals would entail inserting provisions on burden of proof into the Race Relations and Disability Discrimination Acts, as we recently did for the Sex Discrimination Act, and including similar rules in new legislation on sexual orientation, religion and belief and age.
	It is already a significant undertaking to implement the directives, and we are committed to their full implementation.
	Regarding sex discrimination, we may be giving the matter further consideration, for instance in the light of forthcoming proposals for a gender directive from the European Commission. John B

Turkey

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What actions they and the European Union propose for the guaranteeing of cultural rights for all citizens of Turkey, given that the period for implementing the European Union short-term criteria expired in March and that petitions for operational Kurdish lessons in universities were rejected shortly before.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: At the EC/Turkey Association Council on 16 April, the European Community raised concerns about cultural rights for all in Turkey, including a reference to the case of those who have asked for education in the Kurdish language.
	The UK with EU partners will continue to encourage Turkey to fulfil the requirements in its accession partnership in order that it progresses towards meeting the Copenhagen political criteria, the prerequisite for opening negotiations for EU membership. There will be a full assessment of Turkey's progress in the Commission's 2002 regular report published in October.

Gibraltar

Lord Hughes of Woodside: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the outcome of the discussions between the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Spanish Foreign Minister held on 15 May.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary met the Spanish Foreign Minister yesterday to continue our discussions on Gibraltar. There was a friendly and constructive atmosphere. They noted that they have made good progress since July 2001 and remain committed to reaching agreement by the summer. At the same time they both acknowledged that there are real difficulties which remain to be resolved. They agreed to convene a further formal Brussels Process meeting in late June or early July.

Iraq

Lord Hughes of Woodside: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any goods subject to strategic controls have recently been approved for export to Iraq.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export laboratory equipment to UNESCO for use by higher education institutions in northern Iraq. The export included bacterial growth media and potassium cyanide subject to the UN import/export (IMPEX) regime. Potassium cyanide is also subject to the Dual-Use Items (Export Control) Regulations 2000 as amended. The conclusion that this export does not represent a proliferation threat has been reached after careful assessment.
	The UN Iraq Sanctions Committee approved this export to Iraq under the Oil for Food programme (OFF). Under OFF Iraq is allowed to export unlimited quantities of oil to fund the purchase of humanitarian goods. The export is consistent with the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

WTO: Dispute Settlement Understanding

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answers by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 18 March (HL Deb, cols. 1099–1100) that they expect the World Trade Organisation to take 15 months to settle the European Union's dispute with the United States over steel tariffs, whether they are taking any steps to try to reduce the time taken by the World Trade Organisation to settle similar disputes in future.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: WTO disputes inevitably involve complex and detailed issues which take time to resolve. The dispute settlement understanding (DSU)—which sets out the procedures to be followed in resolving WTO disputes—has in-built a number of stages which allow for review of panel findings and appeal by the parties involved. Those stages are important in ensuring the decisions of the panel are fair and based on all the evidence available. However, not all disputes take so long to resolve. Many are resolved at an early stage without the need to resort to a dispute panel.
	That said, a review of the DSU is part of the new round of trade negotiation launched at Doha last year. The European Commission—supported by the UK Government—has put forward its suggestions on improving the process. That includes suggestions on streamlining it. The UK Government's aim for those negotiations is to ensure disputes are resolved in as efficient a manner as possible, while retaining the rigour of the current system. John B

Broadband Services

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What strategy they have in place for the development and roll-out of next generation broadband via Ethernet and fibre connections.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government's strategy for making the broadband market more extensive and competitive was set out in the UK Online Annual Report in December 2001. There are already a number of companies providing Ethernet services in the UK.

Broadband Services

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they endorse the Radio Authority's announcement of the intention to auction licences in the 3.4GHz spectrum, particularly in light of the low levels of interest being shown in licences for the 28GHz spectrum.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government's aim of building a broadband Britain means making services available to as many people as possible. A key part of that strategy involves making various bands within the radio spectrum available to enable the market to develop a portfolio of technical solutions. Licences were awarded in the 28GHz band that provide coverage of over 60 per cent of the country. Industry has asked for additional spectrum at 3.4GHz to be made available. They can then choose the most appropriate method of delivering broadband to the business and residential markets.
	Licences will be awarded through an auction process, as an auction process provides a fast, transparent, fair and economically efficient way of allocating the spectrum and allows the spectrum to be assigned to the operator who values it most.

Furniture Fire Safety Regulations: Manchester

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have received on evasions of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1998 in Greater Manchester; what reply they are making; and what action they are taking.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: I have received a letter from the Manchester Evening News which highlights recent enforcement activity in respect of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 in the Greater Manchester area. I understand that my honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State for Competition, Consumers and Markets expects to reply to that letter shortly.
	The department is presently considering this and other representations on this issue. John B

Animal Health Bill

Lord Moran: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to disclose full details of the responses to their consultation on the implementation of powers in the Animal Health Bill; and, if so, when those details and any response from the Government will be published.

Lord Whitty: An overview and summary of responses to the consultation is available in the Library of the House. The full responses from the consultees are available on request from the Defra Library. With regard to a government response, we have to await the outcome of the National Audit Office and the Royal Society inquiries following the House of Lords vote on the Animal Health Bill on March 26.

Animal Health Bill

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the debate on the livestock industry on 17 April (HL Deb, cols. 944–84) and the reply by the Lord Whitty that the "contiguous cull" was legal, what measures they did not have at their disposal to effect disease control; and
	Why they were unable to enter certain premises during the foot and mouth outbreak; and what was "the legal position" which made the contiguous cull "ineffective", as stated by Lord Whitty on 17 April (HL Deb, col. 984).

Lord Whitty: The Animal Health Act 1981 provides for the slaughter of animals which are affected with foot and mouth disease (FMD) or suspected of being so affected and of animals which have been in contact with affected animals or which appear to the Minister to have been in any way exposed to the infection of foot and mouth disease. This is the legal basis for the contiguous cull.
	The Act does not provide for the slaughter of animals outside these categories. The contiguous cull was inhibited to some extent by disputes over whether particular animals had been exposed to FMD infection or not and was therefore not as effective as it might have been in some cases. The Government's Animal Health Bill would have provided additional powers, namely to slaughter animals in order to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease. This would enable preventive or firebreak culls to be carried out without the animals being affected by FMD or having been exposed to it, thereby speeding up eradication and reducing the overall number of animals that have to be culled.
	The Animal Health Bill also provides for powers of entry which could facilitate a more effective and rapid cull both in circumstances that are in principle already covered by the 1981 Act and in the circumstances covered in the proposed amendment to the Act in the Bill. John B

Illegal Meat Imports

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many sniffer dogs are currently being trained to detect illegal imports of bushmeat from Africa and other illegally imported food at passenger terminals at Britain's international airports; and when they expect these dogs to be deployed.

Lord Whitty: There are currently no dogs being trained for the purpose of detecting illegal meats as we are still in the stage of identifying a provider and the training needs. We aim to have begun training for a pilot exercise by the end of this summer.

Hunting with Dogs

Lord Geddes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether opposition to a hunting ban on welfare grounds has been expressed by bodies of professional opinion; and if so, whether they will take such opposition into account in the consultation process.

Lord Whitty: A range of views have been expressed to my right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael), including views from professional bodies.
	All opinions will be taken into consideration during the consultation process which my right honourable friend announced on 21 March 2002.

Private Abortion Clinics: Advertising

Baroness Knight of Collingtree: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is legal for private abortion clinics to advertise their services in magazines with an international circulation and on the Internet.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Independent sector places approved by the Secretary of State for Health to perform termination of pregnancy can advertise their services in magazines and on the Internet provided that the contents meet publishing guidelines such as those set by the Advertising Standards Authority. John B

Strategic Health Authorities

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement made by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath that there will be a university representative on the boards of strategic health authorities (HL Deb, 29 April, col. 509), whether those board members will be appointed by the National Health Service Appointments Commission and have the same corporate responsibilities as other members of the boards; and, if not, how they will distinguish the approach to university representative members of strategic health authorities from that of patients' forum members of National Health Service bodies as set out by the Minister, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, on 30 April (HL Deb, cols. 589–90).

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: University members of strategic health authorities will be appointed by the National Health Service Appointments Commission and will be full members of the board on which they serve with the same corporate responsibilities as other non-officer board members.

National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 May (WA 167), within what period after the end of the financial year they normally require the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group to submit annual reports; and why they have allowed the group not to submit a report for 2000–01, given that 13 months have elapsed since the end of that financial year.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There is no defined period after the end of the financial year before which an annual report has to be published. The annual report for 2000–01 will be published during May.